wkwb42a

My husband and I are planning a September 2011 (2 week) trip to East Africa, hoping to be there for the migration. Our first trip to Africa was in April 2009; we went to South Africa.
This was our #1 favorite trip ever, and we really appreciated the advice and help from all the Fodorites! Please give us suggestions on itinerary, lodges, etc. Anybody have experience on Emirates Airline? Thank you very much!

Carole

HariS

Emirates - very good, but, dropping service standards!

athena1939

I've been to Southern Africa twice. Never been to East Africa. I was just in Zambia and Botswana in August and met a couple who were there for the first time. They had been to East Africa twice, but after experiencing Southern Africa they said they would not go back. It was just too commercial and too crowded and they didn't get the sense of peace and privacy they had in Botswana. For what it's worth.

TigerPhotog

Sept will be perfect if you want to capture the iconic river crossing...

Emirates is good...I might use them the next time around instead of the usual KLM route.

You could split your stay in between the Mara Triangle (Serena Lodge), best location close to the major river crossings; Eastern region (Keekorok or Intrepids or Mara Bush Camp). The eastern side is close to the Musiara marsh, paradise plains and Talek/Olare Orok river. Wildlife is plenty in these areas.

If you want to save money, use the lodges above...they are inside the triangle, cheaper than the high end camps in the vicinity. Keekorok has a private hippo pool with a nice bar too.

TigerPhotog

You can use this map to get an idea for lodging/location etc.

http://www.masai-mara.net/masai_mara_maps.html

jessyirish

Hi TigerPhotog
I am also planning Safari for next June 2011. Just read your report, Look,s like you had an awesome time,U seen everything that i want to. Olive awesome.
Mr J Scott wow. Big fan also. I am going for 10 days, June best for me no single supplement, Just want to see all the Big Cats,Big Cat Diary Fan,

Leopard especailly, thats is why i dont want to move around. camps i decided to stay in were
4 Nights Main Governors
3 n Interpids( have resident Leopard)
3 n Kicheche Bush.
I would have stayed in Bush camp but they wont be open in June, Great Map thanks
any comments u have on this itinerary would be much appreciated, going crazy try in to decide
Thanks

sandi

Have flown Emirates twice, the most recent in May/June '10. The plane took off and landed... which is most important Emirates fares are often very competitive when compared to the other major carriers, but my decision is also made based on where I can accrue/redeem my frequent flyer miles and the airport I prefer (or not... London) to transit thru.

I'm real easy to satisfy when it comes to airlines, besides of course, take-off/landing - with Emirates there is no "blue" on their interiors, only soft muted colors - lime, fuschia, gold; comfy seats even in coach and a wide array of food choices (may actually be too many choices when you see the flight crew running over 100 "special" meals... quite amazing). And though I usually sleep or read, they have an outstanding entertainment system.

Dubai airport gets larger each visit, now building Terminal 4, but plenty of places to eat and shop; even lounge chairs spread out around the terminals if you want to grab a snooze, but get to these quickly as they are in demand.

For Sept travel, Kenya's Masai Mara is great for the migration, besides visiting an "elephant" park as Samburu (preferred) or Amboseli, maybe Meru or Lewa or Laikipia areas. And, assume you also wish to venture into Tanzania, where at stop at Ngorongoro Crater is a must.

Suggest you read (search here for...) LyndaS's "New East African Trip Report Index" to get an idea of the various itineraries travelers have selected and places at which they stayed, also the tour operator/agent, safari planner or outfitter they used to plan their holiday.

Then when you have an idea of what is of interest, you can come back here for further input and comments.

wkwb42a

Thanx so much for all the great info and Tigerphotog, for the very helpful map as well! We are thinking about Serena Lodge, great location in the triangle; but some people have made negative comments about it. However, we think it would be a good choice.
Any comments? Also we will move to other places. Yes, we plan to go to Tanzania to Ngorongoro Crater - any suggestions for lodges there? Again, many thanks for the expert advice.

Carole

TigerPhotog

Carole,

There is *no other place* in the triangle that puts you within 20 minutes of the major crossing points on the mara river besides Serena....period ! You can use your binocs to see if a crossing is imminent (from the serena's garden).
It gets booked VERY early, so make up your mind quickly for 2011. I am already having issues booking it on specific dates for Aug 2011 for 2 of my trips...

I think of all these lodges as a sort of pit-stop and don't take them too personally. As long as service is ok, food is good, bedsheets and bathrooms are clean with hot water and nobody steals my camera gear, I am fine.

I like the Sopa at the crater just cos of the easy/private access route (in/out) of the crater from the lodge. You could be the first one inside the crater at 6am, if you stay at the Ngo Sopa. Also, you can see the sunset from their garden/pool in the evening.

TigerPhotog

Just for fun, this was taken from the Serena Lodge's garden. The view is sensational(from each room). Below is the Mara river (cutting across the rock agama's head).

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/...ea16a56e_b.jpg

renoduck

wkwb42a - if you look at my trip report I comment on both the Mara Serena and the Crater Sopa. Loved the Serena for many reasons, Sopa was very convenient location wise.

wkwb42a

Again, thank you all so much for your advice! Here is proposed itinerary from our TO for early Sept. 2011.

Fly to Kilimanjaro Int'l. Airport
Night 1 - Mt. Keru Lodge
Day 2 - 2.5 hour ride to Tarangire Park; game drive
Night 2 - Plantation Lodge
Day 3 - Full day safari in Manyara National Park
Night 3 - Plantation Lodge
Day 4 - Ride to Ngo Crater; spend day on Crater floor
Night 4 - Ngorongoro Serena Lodge
Day 5 - Ride into Serengeti
Night 5 - Sayari Camp
Night 6 - Sayari Camp
Day 7 - 4 hour ride to Migori airfield & fly to Masai Mara
Nights 7, 8, 9, 10 - Il Moran Camp (migration)
Day 11 - day room at House of Waine, in Nairobi suburb
Fly home to U.S.

How does this sound?

Alternatively, is it possible, and a good idea, to see the migration at Grumeti River (TZ), and what time of year would that be?

Thanks very much,
Carole

KathBC

Tiger your photo on flickr is "no longer available"

spassvogel

Grumeti migration means June/July into August.

Your TAZ itinerary sounds RUSHY! Too many venues, rides etc. and also: not for SEPTEMBER! That's the time you should be in the Massai Mara/Kenya in order to witness the migration!

I would spend at least 4 nights in the reserve.

JESSY has given a nice itinerary. I would also recommend Samburu or Tsavo NP in Kenya.

I would recommend a fly-in safari in order to save time.

EMIRATES
We flew business class in Sep from DUS to MEL via KL and back to DUS MEL-GUX-DUS.

Lounges in DUS and MEL were excellent. The lounge in DUX was far too crowded.

The business class seats were different meaning really different products. And not LIE FLAT! Those seats still provide you with the feeling of somewhat slipping downwards based on the angle.

Meals on the plane were good but ot outstanding!
Amenities - so, so....
Chauffeur service was excellent - at home and in OZ.
Flights were on time all the way - no delays.

Now we have switched to ETIHAD for our Nov trip to Melbourne, AGAIN business class as ETIHAD's special is as good as the EMIRATES one.

We got a rail ticket first class to get us to FRA and then straight to Abu Dabi and Melbourne. No detour!
On the flight back in AD we have a couple of hours to enjoy their lounge, massages etc etc.
They have confirmed of having real lie flat seats.
The best thing: Business class pax van use the cigar lounge at first class lounge YEPP!
Not that I need it - but it's really nice to have a puff in a NICE ATMOSPHERE
We are really looking forward to experience the difference.

Happy planning!

moneyburns

I agree with all above - KENYA in Sept...(now I do not have first hand knowledge of SV and her cigar smoking airline -but other than that I totally agree) Mara first....if you have time there are so many great places in Kenya - north - Samburu area, OR, south - Amboselli - East? (only from what I read from Patty, and by the way where is she? Tsvao!
Sandi will know all the cool spots to go...... really she goes all the time.

Tanzania - another month, another time,

-as you will get hooked and need to go back. That is what I am planning next. (TZ) You do need to read the EAST AFRICA TRIP REPORTS to get further confused....LOL

But seriously, stay in Kenya for Sept. We had no crowds- no commercialism as someone stated earlier...just pick the right places to be.....Mara and a Conservation Area worked for me; I posted pics you can find them under my name along with quite a few others .Research is key along with the forum. It made for us a very successful and funloving happy trip.

Good luck, but dont try to over do..you need more than 2-3 nights in one place to absorb it all.....

MoneyB.

PA_Kathy

wkwb42a,

Do you mind naming your TO? I'm also looking at a trip to Kenya/TZ in Sept 2011 and investigating which TO to use.

wkwb42a

Hi Kathy!

We are considering the above itinerary proposed by Hippo Creek Safaris. Which are you investigating? It sure is a difficult process, trying to get it right. Please keep us posted, and I will too. Good luck and enjoy the planning.

Carole

cary999

Is Sep good for migration in Tanzania? Thought migration was in Kenya, Maasai Mara area around Aug - Sep?

regards - tom

twaffle

Tom, the migration is in the Northern Serengeti and the Mara. There are some excellent mobile camps which follow the migration and hang around the Northern Serengeti during this time … and they get river crossings and the like, without the crowds. I don't think that they offer any budget options though, sadly. I had planned a safari for Sept next year and was going to stay in the Northern Serengeti for the migration … we'll see if the budget allows.

No way on this earth would I bother with the Mara during such a bun fight, yuk!!

PA_Kathy

Carole,

So far, I've looked at DK Grand Safaris (emphasis on Kenya) and African Adventure (emphasis on TZ). I was concerned about the emphasis on TZ, so appreciated twaffle's comment about the northern Serengeti. I'm waiting for a few more replies from other companies. Once I get them, I'll be asking for comments on this forum!